Why you need a Marketing Plan in 2021
Get noticed
The very thought or mention of a Marketing Plan can often make business owners break out in a cold sweat. I get it, it’s a daunting task BUT it can also be your secret weapon. If you’re guilty of only marketing ‘when you have time’ or ‘when business is quiet’ then keep reading! If you fall into the other category and are marketing ‘all the time’ and ‘to everyone’ then you should also keep reading.
Let me ask you this, did you write a business plan before starting your business? There’s a fifty percent chance that you didn’t in my experience. Less than half of all business owners write a business plan before starting their business, even less plan their marketing. A very small percentage, around 10-20% of small to medium sized businesses develop a marketing plan.
If you want your business to thrive in 2021 and beyond, you need to be investing and planning your marketing strategy. It is time to stop randomly throwing darts at the board and hoping to land a bullseye! Having a clear plan takes the pain and guesswork out of marketing your business.
Developing a yearly Marketing Plan also assists you to get clear on the goals you want to achieve. Whether it be an increase in sales, growing your team or moving your business online to capture a wider audience.
Consistency is key to success, ask any successful sportsperson or business owner that has performed at the top level. Having a plan makes all the difference. If you’re in a highly competitive market, how many of your competitors have a marketing plan? If you see them consistently marketing at a high level, engaging with their target market and generally kicking goals, you can bet your bottom dollar they do!
My advice is to keep it simple. As a small or medium sized business, you do not need a complicated Marketing Plan. It will sit in your draw and never get used! What you need is a Marketing Action Plan. A simple monthly or weekly plan that outlines your key activities over a 6 to 12 month period. It should be a working document, meaning it gets reviewed and updated regularly (quarterly at a minimum).
You don’t need a massive marketing budget to get started. This year is as good as any year to commit to making changes in your business and what better place to start than ramping up your marketing.